Capital murder cases, as tragic as they are for families and communities, can be budget-busters for small counties.

Tyler County's criminal justice expenses are expected to climb with this week's arrest of two people suspected in the death of a man whose burned body was discovered in the ruins of a house fire.Tyler County Sheriff Bryan Weatherford said his office has "multiple suspects" in the death on Sunday near the Dam B community.

One suspect, Bruce Lee Chance, 37, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with capital murder. Chance on Thursday was in custody in the Tyler County jail with bond set at $250,000. Weatherford declined to release details of the case or why Chance is charged with the potential death-penalty offense. Capital murder is defined as a homicide during the commission of an aggravating felony, such as robbery or arson.

A second suspect was arrested in Orange County Thursday, the department reports. Angela Coats was arrested on suspicion of murder and received a $250,000 bond.

Weatherford also would not release the victim's name, but the man is believed to be a 51-year-old construction worker who lived on County Road 4180 in the Wayward Winds area.

"It's taxpayer money," he said. "We have to be good stewards, but we have to see that justice is served."Tyler County's budget is about $9 million, and its tax rate is 54.6 cents per $100 of property value in the mostly rural county. Homeowners are paying most of the county's taxes, and big expenses like a capital murder will hit the county budget hard, Blanchette said.